Discover the story behind Skye Candles and follow our journey through the years...

2006

2006

2006

2009

2011

2012

2014

2015

2016

2016

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It all begins here...

April 2006

With a passion for all things natural and after discovering a flair for creating unique fragrances while working for a soap company on Skye, our founder James starts the Isle of Skye Candle Company at the grand old age of 18.

Home sweet home

May 2006

James, with help from family and friends, renovates a bothy on his uncle's croft in Braes, turning it into a candle making workshop - complete with an authentic grass roof and wood burning stove. Here James starts making the first Skye Candles. They are not perfect by any means, but nothing that's really worth doing ever comes easy.

First sale

August 2006

After months of experimenting and research into candle making, James sells the first batch of his candles using all natural produce. It's a small order to a local soap shop, but it is the start of a beautiful journey.

First employee

June 2009

With word spreading about the quality of the products, demand starts to increase. Before long another person is needed to help James keep up with orders. It's a proud moment as one of the main aims of starting the company was to create good employment for young people on Skye.

Moving to a new place

April 2011

With demand for Skye Candles growing steadily, soon not only more employees are needed but also a new workshop. This brings with it the opportunity of opening the very first Skye Candles store. It's something of a big deal for all involved and for our faithful supporters, so we have a ceilidh to celebrate before getting back down to work.

And the award goes to...

October 2012

The Isle of Skye Candle Company wins 'Best New Scottish Company' at the Scottish Variety Awards. Again we party and celebrate our biggest achievement to date.

Growing retail

February 2014

Our first shop on the mainland opens on the 22nd of February 2014 on West Bow in Scotland's capital, Edinburgh. We crack open the whisky and champagne and we ceilidh again. Within 18 months we open 3 more stunning stores in Inverness, St Andrews and on Buchanan Street in Glasgow. Wow.

ScotEdge Award

December 2015

In December we pitched to a panel of business leaders in a Dragon's Den style pitch to secure funding to help develop the Skye Candles brand even further. We were delighted even to make the final, and couldn't be more excited by the opportunities to come after winning such a prestigious award.

10 Years!!

May 2016

Time flies when you're having fun! We can't believe we are celebrating 10 years of making our natural candles for the world. What better way to reflect on the years than having everyone who helped us on the way over to our office on Skye to enjoy some fireworks and gin... what a night!

Restoring Loch Archaig

October 2016

We deeply care about our environment and the native woodlands here in Scotland, and had recently developed a new fragrance composed of natural Scots Pine oil. So when we heard about the Woodland Trust’s efforts to buy and restore the Loch Arkaig forest we thought it was the perfect opportunity to get involved to try and make a difference. With every sale of our Scots Pine candle, we pledged £1 to help save the Loch Arkaig Pine forest.